Internet cafe owner fights Ohio county crackdown

Published: June 6, 2012 8:00AM

CLEVELAND (AP) -- An Internet "sweepstakes" cafe owner is challenging efforts by a prosecutor in Ohio's largest county who wants to shut down such businesses and says they're really illegal gambling operations.

The businesses offer games that function like slot machines with cash prizes. Last week, the Cuyahoga (ky-uh-HOH'-guh) County prosecutor sent letters to about 50 cafe operators in the county ordering them to close immediately.

The Plain Dealer reports (http://bit.ly/M7i1Tp ) two of those facilities are owned by J&C Marketing LLC, which is asking a county judge to block the prosecutor from enforcing that order. A hearing is set for Monday.

An assistant prosecutor said the county was preparing a response to the court filing. He says most of the county's sweepstakes cafes have closed since the order, but a few remain open.